Shooting Rats in a Barrel

We should assist the country of Somalia as long as it doesn't deter us from swiftly killing any pirates foolish enough to attack our interests. And please, no more land invasions

The successful outcome of the Maersk situation (Three scumbags reunited with their father in hell, one captured, all hostages safe) is due entirely to the US military, especially the Navy SEALs.

Having said that, I do think President Obama earns at least some praise for effective use of our military. If for no other reason than if this situation had gone the other way, he sure as hell would have caught blame. God forbid we turn back the clock to Somalia 1992, where Clinton Administration policies, not military failure, led to that sickening event known colloquially as Black Hawk Down.

The fact that these sea-borne criminals are the spawn of a failed state explains their actions, but does not excuse them

According to Breitbart, Defense Secretary Gates had this to say about the root cause of Somali piracy:

"There is no purely military solution to" piracy in the region, he added.

"As long as you've got this incredible number of poor people and the risks are relatively small, there's really no way in my view to control it unless you get something on land that begins to change the equation for these kids."

I agree, as long as addressing root causes does not hinder the cause of snuffing these sewer rats every time they pop their stinking heads up. I'm all for increasing the risk side of the risk/reward equation.

John Keegan, in the Daily Telegraph, sums it up best:

So our campaign must be ruthless and pitiless: pirate ships must be sunk on sight and the crews left to swim to safety, if it can be reached.

Many would complain about such tactics but, in my opinion, pirates have no rights – indeed, it will be vital to exclude human rights lawyers from the anti-piracy campaign. To bring any captives to Europe or America for trial would probably be to grant them their dearest wish, which is to secure entry to a new life in the First World.

Armed escorts have been suggested. You can't protect them all! Cowering critics shout. No need to. Our US Navy only needs to protect US flagged carriers. The rest of the world can get Michael Jackson and Bruce Springsteen to sing "we are the world." We'll see how that works out for them as their insurance rates go sky high because settlement claims have become de facto Gulf of Aden toll payments for cowards too scared to fight back.

Let the UN do-gooders try to fix Somalia, and let our military continue their target practice out on the high seas.

Bloomberg
Breitbart
Daily Telegraph